Selective isolation can be achieved in N-free media, with or without yeast extract, and with glucose as carbon source. Colonies are flat, smooth and opaque in nutrient agar. Grow aerobically and anaerobically. Grow in 2% NaCl but not in 5% NaCl media. Growth temperature 10-37 ºC, optimum 28 ºC. Range of pH: 5.6-8.0, optimum pH 7.0.

Isolated from acid humus in Norway spruce forest in Finland and from rhizoplane of birch and red fescue. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria.No growth in 0.001% lysozyme.